Every year is a year of Mercy

Today, Feast of Christ the King ends the observance and celebration of the Extraordinary Year of Mercy which began last year on 8 December 2015 as ordered by the Holy Father Pope Francis. But what came to an end was the celebration.

Celebration, as far as the Archdiocese is concerned, refers to those activities like opening and blessing of the Holy Door in cathedrals and special churches, and the passing through the door and the gaining of plenary indulgences through recitation of prayers. This activity is done either by an individual or a group which is known as a pilgrimage. The focus of all these ritual activities is the Eucharistic celebration.

What should continue without end is the observance of the year-long process of prayer, study, reflection and acts of mercy done in especially concrete way. The focus of this observance, which is carried out either by individual or community, is the revealed scriptures on the mystery of God as Father of Mercy whose face is the very face of His Son Jesus. And this face of mercy (misericordiae vultus) is replicated endlessly and beautifully by those who live-out the beatitude, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”